Natural Horse Hoof Care
The hooves on the feet of horses are very important and must be properly maintained for the overall health of the animal and for the best riding quality. The best one can do for their animal is use Natural Horse Hoof Care, it is a important part of professional Horse equipment.
The hooves of a horse are cleaned by using a hoof pick to remove any stones, mud and dirt and to check that the shoes (if worn) are in good condition, keeping the animals feet clean and dry and will prevent lameness and other hoof diseases like thrush.
The feet should be cleaned every time the horse is ridden, and if the horse is not ridden, it is still best practice to clean the horses feet frequently as it is recommended in management books, but a weekly cleaning should be enough.
Use of hoof oils, dressings, or other topical treatments varies by region, climate, and the needs of the individual horse, as there are many horses that live their entire lives with no feet problems and never have a need for these dressings, while at the same time, some horses may have circumstances where a topical hoof treatment is of benefit, improper use of dressings can also create hoof problems, or make a situation worse instead of better.
Farriers and veterinarians in a horse owner’s local area can provide advice on the use and misuse of topical hoof dressings, offering suggestions tailored for the needs of the individual horse, but there is no universal set of guidelines suitable for all horses in all parts of the world.
Horses and ponies require routine hoof care by a professional Farrier every 6 to 8 weeks, depending on the animal, the work it performs and, in some areas, weather conditions because hooves grow faster in the spring and fall than in summer or winter and they also appear to grow faster in warm, moist weather than in cold or dry weather.
In damp climates, the hooves tend to spread out more and wear down less than in dry climates, though more lush and growing foliage may also be a factor, for example; a horse kept in a climate like Ireland may need to have its feet trimmed more frequently than a horse kept in a drier climate such as Arizona, in the southwestern United States.
